Do the new Apple Laptops Cut It?

I currently use a Powerbook G4 and have a Nikon D2x. When I shoot NEF files and try to manipulate them with the G4, it is a slow aruduous grind. Recently I began to do some semi commercial work and I am dying a slow death running the files on this laptop. Question is though, for running batch conversions with either Nikon View or Photoshop, will the new PowerMac laptops offer enough speed enhancement or am I going to have to go to a desktop? Please share your experiences.

I currently use a Powerbook G4 and have a Nikon D2x. When I shoot NEF files and try to manipulate them with the G4, it is a slow aruduous grind. Recently I began to do some semi commercial work and I am dying a slow death running the files on this laptop. Question is though, for running batch conversions with either Nikon View or Photoshop, will the new PowerMac laptops offer enough speed enhancement or am I going to have to go to a desktop? Please share your experiences.

Thanks,Mike

If you are using Photoshop, it won't be that much of an improvement with the Macbook Pro 2.33ghz until the Creative Suite 3 is out next quarter. However, anything that is universal binary will definitely benefit (ie Aperture). Of course, for serious big files a desktop would give optimum performance. The quad Mac pro are much faster than any macbook pro.If you feel glacial now with Nikon Capture, you won't see a difference due to the non- UB rosetta emulation for NC. But then again, I haven't used NC or PS for raw conversions. I use capture one or aperture.

Drew
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So I am to understand that by using CS2 I would be served more speedy file processing if I was running a Windows based notebook or desktop?

All else being equal, the current answer would be yes. Of course you could always generate the same advantages by using boot camp or paralells to run a Windows version of CS2 on the mac, but I probably wouldn't bother.

Another alternative might be to wait for the UB of CS2 to arrive early next year. It might coincide with Apple dropping the new 800 ghz FSB chips into the MBPs which would give you a double whammy.

Yet another option would be to try a faster UB RAW converter like Bibble which is the only thing that makes my G4 seem quick at the moment. I'm holding off until next year for the hardware upgrade. Software is cheap.

I am using the current MBP 17" with my D2Xs files, converting with both Lightroom and the Adobe Creative Suite 2.

In all cases it has been fast enough, and as fast as any PC I had previously.

I just finished both a Pro shoot of 1200 images and a dive trip of 1800. Speed has rarely been an issue.

So what I am to hear is that you are pushing the big NEF files around, converting in the two applications, and you are not pulling your hair out waiting on the machine to deal with these 1000+ images in your database for each shoot with your D2x.

That would make me happy. I have been grinding away with my G4 Powerbook and it takes a lot of the fun out of the hobby for me.

I took the plunge last weekend and purchased a MacBook Pro. I installed Aperature this weekend, watched the tutorial, and proceeded to handle a load of NEF files and large JPG's. It worked fabulously and very fast compared to what I am used to. If any of you are considering this combination, I encourage you to go for it. I have not been disappointed!

I purchased a 15" MacBook Pro and Aperture a month ago, before my trip to Palau. I am extremely pleased with the system. It is very fast and easy to use. I have just finished processing all 500+ of my keeper photos. I had no need to leave Aperture and go to PSCS2 for any of my processing. Aperture has all the tools I need, so far.

Does anyone use Aperture on a Macbook (not Pro)?
Processors are basically the same, so does a graphic card alone make significant difference?
I could think about few alternative uses for the extra $ pro version costs.

When you install Aperture it will actually check that you have the right hardware, and will not install unless it likes your hardware, primarily the graphics catd I beleive. Some folks have apparently hacked a workaround that allows installation with other machines. I do not know if it runs adequately though in those situations.

Well, I'm one of these folks. I run it on 12" G4 iBook. It works but requires lots of patience. I want to upgrade my laptop. I just wonder if Macbook will be good enough. Anyway, I'll probably wait until Leopard.